EVOLUTION OF DIESEL ENGINE TECHNOLOGY: MORE SOPHISTICATED AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
In this day and age, even though they are not as popular as petrol-engined cars, vehicles with diesel engines still have a special place in the hearts of fans. Diesel engines are known to have economical fuel consumption and large torque, so they are very reliable for transporting heavy loads. Although diesel engines have many advantages, they are also notorious for exhaust emissions, noise and engine vibration problems. However, along with technological developments, diesel engines are now increasingly sophisticated and environmentally friendly. Let’s look at its evolution.
Indirect Injection
In the 1980s, diesel engines used indirect injection technology. This technology involves the presence of a small combustion chamber in the system, where a mist of fuel is sprayed by the injector into the pre-chamber. The air compressed by the piston is then compressed again in the pre-chamber and a small combustion occurs. This combustion is then continued to the main chamber above the piston surface. The reason for using a pre-chamber was because at that time engineers could not create a compression pressure large enough for complete combustion in the main chamber.
Glow Plugs
Glow plugs, or often referred to as glow plugs, are one of the technologies used in the early days of diesel engines. The glow plug functions as a heating element that allows the fuel to burn. The glow plug is usually located in the pre-chamber of engines with indirect injection. The use of glow plugs is limited to making it easier to start the engine in cold conditions. After the engine starts, combustion occurs automatically due to the high compression pressure in the diesel engine.
Primary Pump
Air is the main enemy in the diesel engine fuel system. Air can appear due to replacement of components in the fuel system or when the fuel tank is completely empty. When the engine is started, trapped air can interfere with fuel flow. Therefore, a primary pump is needed to remove the trapped air. The way it works is by doing a pumping movement. The primary pump is usually located on the diesel or sedimenter filter.
Fixed Turbocharger
Turbocharger technology is not new technology. This technology, which is used to supply forced air into an engine with the help of a turbine, has even been used since the 1930s. Unfortunately, the rotation of the turbine blades still depends on the strength of the exhaust gas. As a result, turbo lag symptoms cannot be avoided due to the slow turbocharger response.
Direct Injection
Modern diesel engines no longer require a pre-chamber. With direct injection technology, fuel is sprayed directly into the combustion chamber. In this way, the power produced from combustion is maximized. This direct injection system is inseparable from common-rail technology.
Common rail
In previous generations of diesel engines, the injectors opened due to fuel pressure. However, in modern diesel engines, the injector opening and closing is regulated by the ECU (Electronic Control Unit). This common-rail technology collects pressurized fuel in a common channel. This channel functions as a reservoir before being distributed to the injectors in each cylinder. Fuel pressure and injector opening time can be adjusted individually on the common-rail system. The positive impact of this technology is increased power, fuel efficiency and low emissions.
Variable Turbo
To solve the problem of turbo lag, engineers created variable turbo technology. With this technology, turbine rotation can be more responsive without depending on the strength of the exhaust gas. There are many mechanisms used in variable turbos. One of the most common mechanisms is to shift the turbine angle to set a certain pressure in the turbine compressor.
To keep the engine lasting until now, choosing the right diesel engine oil is very important. One example is Deltalube Daily 757 Premium Diesel Oil SAE 15W-40 API CI-4, which contains deposit control additives that can reduce the formation of carbon scale inside the piston. This oil also has good particle control, so it doesn’t thicken easily.
With the continuing evolution of diesel engine technology, diesel engines are becoming more sophisticated, efficient and environmentally friendly. The existence of direct injection technology, common-rail systems and variable turbos has brought positive changes to the performance and sustainability of diesel engines. As diesel engine fans, we can enjoy the benefits of these engines while still protecting our environment.
